Building construction.



- T. J. Gnoien n .BUILDING cons'rncnor. V urmouxox Hmm 11mg.y s. 19m. 971,035. Patented Sept 27,1910. s sums-amm 1.

t wlmfssfs:

'j T. J. GEORGE. Y (y Y v BUILDING coHsTBUoTIoN. l y

*n l ugum'nox rmm nov. s, m1. 971,035.

Patentq sepa 27, 19m. n

SHEETS-SIGHT 2Q n L INVENTOI? 'UNirED v"srnifg13ACer-uti* oFriioE.

y THOMAS J. GEORGE, or iNGLBwooD, New JERSEY.

To all 'whom 'it may concern.:

Be it known that I, Tirmms J. (ionciz, residing atlnglewood. in the county of llei- A gen and State of he- .hrsc v..lni\e invented certain-new and useti'il Improvements iii Building Construction, of which the following is a full. clear. and exaet description.

vsuch as will enable others skilled in the art .-ibove type adapted to stand a heavy loadwithout the use of beams or .the like projecting beyond its surface.

()tber objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. v,

The invention accordingly consists` in the `features of construction.combinations of elements and arrangement of parts wbieh will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth. and the .st-ope of the appliration of which will be iudiea'ited in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing. wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of this invention. Figure 1 is a plan thereof. Fig. 2 is a side. elevation. Fig. 3 is a simi-lar view showing a complete Hoor section in either direction. Fig. 4 is similar view of a slightlv ditlerent embodiment of certainA features of this invention.

Similar reference eharaetyrs refer to `siniilar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. I i

In order that certain featuresI of this in-k ;vention may be the more illiadily and fully understood. it may here be noted that m modern building construction. and more particularly in commercial buildingsV of the great sizes now common, there is a tendency to impose heavy loads. upon the floors. thus requiring great strength to meet the same with a proper factor of Safety. If it be attempted to gain this` strength by the use of extraneops supporting means. as beams or thp like, there results vnot only an unsightly construction, but. an undue consumption of and practical char-y Y .Specication of Letters fatent. Patented Sept, 27, Application filedNovembi' 5. 1907. Serial Xo. 4.00.853.

BUILDINGl CONSTRUCTION.

space, where space is often highly valuable It may also be noted that there is at present abroad 'and growing demand for buildings which are not susceptible to destruction by tire. ln the attempt to meet this dein-and there have been Vcoustrinted many so-called lireproof buildings` but it has been found that upon the saine being exposed to a large eontlagration or a fire well started.with in them. they cannot be depended upon to resist the saine as even the. metal 1s warped and weakened. if exposed directly` to the Haines. '1 ne. elimination of these defects and the provisin of aA strong, compact and thoroughly tirepi'oof element of buildingr const rueliou, are invention. l

Referring now to the accompanying draw-V ing. there are shown a. series of blocks referabl)v arranged side by side substantial in a single pignons indicated vin Fig. 1. t is among the leading aims of thisfj i.. www@ am in uns illuso-.inve embodiment theniveutiou is shown as applied to flour construction towhich useit 1s peculiarly adapted, but it is to be'understood that Vmany of the features thereof are of value in wall construction and other relations. These blocks are preferably formed as best shown in Fig. 2 of the. drawing. having projecting portions 1 at their lower edges adapted to abut. against. one another,

. and providing spaces? between the remainder of their surfaces. These spaces are preferably of a zigzag conformation as shown,

and` extend entirely to the top offhe block.v lt may here be noted that the term block.

is used broadly throughout this description and the following claims, to indicate any memher adapted to resist compression, irrespective of its shape, although many advantages are found 'in the shape herein set forth. Considering now a. .group of these blocks as consecutively numbered ,from 3 to 18- iucliisive, there is passed about the lower portions of blocks 3,' 4, 9 and 10, a. tension member lirwhich preferably takes the form of an iron band set into appropriate recesses in the blocks, in order to lie substantially flush with the surface. Atthe upper portion of these same blocks, asimilar band 20 passes about the same and holds them in the desired relation. About; the blocks 5, 6, 7 and 8 similar bands are passed, as well about the blocks 11, 12, 17 andl 18 and the group 13, 14, 15 and 16. -Each of these blocks is thus. rigidly held against outward moveioo ' tioned at the side of these, and the block 6 is tif) of blot-,ks as clearly indicated in the drawonly in sets of two in a longitudinal direclor other numbers, might readily be connected underl this prmcxple, but many advanas the same will be obvious from the conment of eitherthe upper or lower portions, 3

and the erevices 2 are lled with cement 1n order toV make a solid mass of the same and do away with any tendency of the blocks to swing one toward the other at their upper ends. YThere are also provided bands 2]. similar to the bands 19 and 20, which are stretched about the upper and lower portions of the blocks 9, 813 and12. In this manner the four groups or sets, which were first pointed ont in'detail, are bound'onc Ato another, and it is to be understood thatl this construction may extendY indefinitely, and each group be bound to the. contiguous groups upon all sides, For example, the bands 22 nassabout the blocks 4 and 5, as well as other blocks, which would be posiconnccted as by the bands 23 with other blocks, which would rest adjacent the same it the lconstruction is to be continued in that direction. If this structure be used as a door clement there will remain blocks which abut against the wall or equivalent member upon each side, and it is to be un dcrstood that the same may be tied to the wall y bands similar to` those shown and described. Considering the sets of two as. 3 and t in one set, and and G in another set, it to bc noted that a tension member s about the incu'xbcrs 3 and 4, another on member about the bloclrs and G and a third tension member about the blocks -ftand These tension members, in this ativc embodiment, also pass about other blocks, but it to be seen that a single beam may, if desired, be readily built up under this principle by binding the blocks tion. It will also be seen that setsof three,

tagesare found inthe type of construction shown in this embodiment.

Referring now to Fig. B there is shown a cmnplctc floor section extending between the abutments or supports Q4 and columns Q5. In this construction itv ll b'e noted that. as the blcks approachthev points of support, the tension member bands are inclined upwardly as at Q6, the degree of inclination becoming greater with each succeeding set ings'. The final-band or tension member 27, makeover, is preferably passed about the column, thus binding the same securely' in place. It is also to be understood that the bands may be similarly inclined in a transverse direction, that is in a direction toward or away from the plane of the draw-- ings it being unnecessary to illustrate this struction shown. By reason of this arrangement of tne bands or tension members the points at. which the greatest shearing stresses occur, nainelv. adjacent the points of support, are provided with additional means for meeting these stresses, namely the lower tension members which. by reason of their inclined position resist not onlyr the bending but shearin f stressesof the floor as a whole. Thus, any orce tending to thrust one of the blocks downwardly with reference to the contiguous blocks is met by the inclined tension members 'binding these together as well as by the cement positioned between them, and the former tend to swing the blocks closer together and prevent relative displacement.

Considering the assembling of this construction as a whole, if the same is to be used as a floor, the blocks are mounted as upon a temporary scaifold with the lower portions abutting against one another, either directly or with a thin laver of cement therebetween, anrl the iron hoops or bands set in position. The crevices 2 are then filled with cement or the like'to the upper surface of the floor, and upon the same hardening, a rigid monolithic mass results which possesses a high degree of strength and rigidity without the use of supporting beams or girders, or any parts projecting beyond its surface;`

lt will also be seen that the metallic members are thoroughly protected against tire, the

blocks being preferably of terra cotta or the like, and the entire mass is thus well adapted to withstand the most severe exposure to flames. a smooth ceiling, and it is tobe noted that the term floor as used throughout is intended to comprehend ceiling construction. It may also be noted that the expression pass about is used throughout in its accurate sense as meaning embracing or extending around, and that the term continuous 4is 'intended to denote a form, by virtue of which the member described is continuous in effect though not necessarily integral. It will also be seen that the construction may be arched in either or both dil'cctit'ms and thus additional strength gained und, if de sired, a vvaulted ccilingformed. Such a construction is indicated inl Fig. 4 of the drawings in which the blocks are arched as along the line 28, and the upper surface or door is rendered level as by a cement filling 20. It will thus be seen that I have provided a construction in which the several objects of this invention are attained, andk the above enumerated advantages are, among others, present. The construction is simple, inenpensive and readily assembled, and when 1n position is not only compact and presents a neat appearance. but it is'fstrong and rigid and well adapted to withstand the severe conditions o1: ractical use.`

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely di'erent embodiments of this invenlhe lower surface, moreover, forms s -v limiting sense.

I tion could be made without departin from the scope thereof, it is intended thatta l matter contained in the above description or shown in the accom anying drawings shall` be interpreted as il ustrative and not in a It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features ofthe invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention whichas a matter of language,

- might be said to fall therebetween. A

IIaving` described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:-

1. In building construction, in Lkcombination, a plurality of sets of blocks, tie-menibers secured about and binding to ether the side by side to form a substantially continusk ons surface, a tie-member secured about and binding together each pair, and'other tie-l members secured about and binding together a block of each pair and a block of another pair, each of said tie-members being and a member of another set, said members complete in itself, and connected to itself about said blocks.

4. In building construction, in combination, a plurality of sets of blocks arranged side by side to form a portion of a fioor, continuous tie members secured about the r lower portions of each of saidsets, and conf tinuous tie members secured about the lower portion of a member of each of said sets being substantially in contact with said blocks throughout their length. ,n

5. In building construction, in combination, a plurality of blocks arranged side by side to form a portion of a fioor. a tie member secured about the, lower portions'of, two

' of said blocks, and a separate tie member se- .cured about the lower portino of one of said two blocks and another of said blocks adjacent thereto, each of said tension members being complete in itselfand connected to itself about said blocks.

6. In building construction, in combination, a plurality of sets of blocks' arranged side by side to form a portion of a floor, tie

`members secured about and binding together the lower portions of each of said sets of blocks, and tie members securedV about and binding together a bloclrof each of said sets and a block of another set at their upper and A Y lower portions.

7. In building construction, in conibina-' g tion, a plurality of sets of blocks arranged in a single plane, a continuous tie-member secured about and binding together each of said sets, and a continuous tie-member secured about and binding togetherone block of one set and one bloclrof each of a plurality of other sets. Y

8. In building construction, in combination, a plurality of sets of blocks arranged'- sidetby side in a single plane, a continuous tie-member secured about and binding together each of said sets and a continuous ticmember secured about and binding together a block of one set, a block of a set laterally nff'setin one direction with respect thereto, and a block of a" set laterally oflset in another direction with respect thereto.

'9. In building construction, in con|binaranged substantiallyA in i single plane, hinding means'secured about each of'raid seis of four blocks, and separate binding means secured about a block of each of three of said sets of four blocks. each of said means being complete in itself and connected to itself about said blocks. f

tion, apluralityof sets of four blocks ar- J 10. In building construction, in comhinaj tion,l a plurality of sets of four blocks ar,- ranged substantially in a single plane. a eontlnuous tie-member secured about and hinding together each of said sets of four blocks, Y and a continuous tie-member secured about and binding together a block of each of three of said sets of four blocks, two of said sets being laterally 'offset with reference one to another in fone direction, and two of said sets being laterally offset with reference .to

one another in another direction.

11. In building construction, in combination, a plurality of sets ot blocks arranger] substantially in a single plane, continuons tie members secured about and binding ,to-V

gether the lower portions of eaoh of said sets, and a continuous tie member secured about and binding together the lower portion of one block of one .of said sets, one block of a set laterally offset in onel direction and one block of a set laterally offset in another direction. y

12. In building construction, in combination, a plurality of sets of four blocks arranged substantially in a single planetie members secured aboutl and binding together the upper and'lower portions of each of said sets, and tie members secured about and binding together the upper and lower portions of one block of each of four of said sets.

13. In building construction, in combination, a plurality of sets of blocks arranged side by side to form a portion of aV floor and having their lower portions substantially :n

y contact andV their remaining portions spaced one from another :i tilting between said spaced portions. continuous tie members se cured about and binding together the blocks of each of said sets, and continuous tie niembers secured about and binding together av yio tween said spaced portions,a continuous tiemember secured about ,and binding together the blocks of each set, and a continuous tie` member seciiredabout and binding together one block of one set and one block of each of twoother sets.

l5. In building construction, in combina tion` a plurality of sets of blocks arranged side by side to form a portion of .f tloorand having their lowermost portion., substantially in contactV yand their remaining portions spaced one from another, a tilting between saidspaced portions. a continuous tiemember secured about and binding together the blocks of each set, anda continuous tieinember secured about and binding together one block of one set and one block of each of two other sets. said two othersets being res; eet i rel i said first set.

16. In building construction, in combination, a plurality of sets of four blocks ai ranged side by side to forni a portion of a floor and having their lowerniost portions substantially in contact and their remaining portions spaced one from .another a filling between said spaced portions. a tie member ofi-set in two directions from secured about and binding together the of members arranged side by side to form a portion ofa i'ioor extending from one to the other of'said supporting.r means. tie means secured about and binding together two of Isaid members. and tie means secured about and binding together one. of said two meinbers and another of said members and -inclined upwardly from the center of said portion of the flour toward one of said suppoitiug means.

18. In buildingl constructiomin combination, a pair of` supporting means, a` plurality of sets of blocks arranged side by side to form a portion of atloor extending from one to the other' of said supporting means,

ing together thelower portion of a member of each of said sets and a member of another set.

one to the other of said supporting means,

tie members secured about and binding together the lower portions of each of said sets. -and tie members secured about and y binding together the lower portionof a member of each of said sets and a member of another set and upwardly inclined from the center of said portion of the floor toward one of said supporting means, the degree of t inclination of said last tie members being proportionate to their proximity vto the oorresponding supporting means.

' 20. InA building construction, in combina.- i

tion, a pair of supporting means, a plurality` of sets of blocks arranged side by side to forni a portion ot' a floor extending from one to the other of said supporting means, tie members secured about and binding together the lower portions ofc' each of said sets. and tie members secured about and binding together the lower portion of a member of each of said sets and a member of another set, said several tie members beineY substantially horizontal at the central portion of said floor and being inclined upwardly in a direction away from the central portion of said tloor at the portions adjacent ear'h of said supporting means, the degree of inclination increasing in proportion to the proximity o said tie members to said supporting means. 'Y

21. In building construction, in combination, a plurality of ineombustible blocks .arranged side by side, tension members respectively extending about and binding together each of a plurality of sets or groups Y of said blocks, and tension membersrespectively extending about and binding into groups or sets blocks from a plurality of said tirstsets. whereby said first sets of blocks are heldin rigid relation one to another` In testiuionywhereof I atiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

. 1 THOMAS JgGEORGE.

Witnesses:

H. M. SEAMANS, R. S. BLAIR. 

